Battery terminal or like puller



Aug. 25, 1942. A. P. STONE 2,294,345

BATTERY TERMINAL OR LIKE FULLER Filed Aug. 2, 1940 IN VEN TOR. Ari/7w R5700a Patented Aug. 25, 1942 illTED STATES QICE BATTERY TERMINAL OR LIKEPULLER Application August 2, 1940, Serial No. 349,589

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a pulling tool, and in particular relates to atool for pulling split terminals from battery posts.

A purpose of this invention is to provide a simple, compact, andrelatively inexpensive puller of the character described, havingsuflicient power for removing the usual split terminals from batteryposts, as for example, when the terminal connections have become socorroded that loosening the terminal clamping nut is ineffective toloosen the terminal from the post.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool of the characterdescribed, capable of applying sufficient clamping pressure on the sidesof the terminal for removing the terminal from its post, this beingparticularly useful when the terminal is so close to the battery topthat the hooked gripping elements of the usual pulling tools cannot beengaged under the lower edge portions of the terminal.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a tool of thecharacter described which is easily and quickly adjustable toaccommodate battery terminals or the like of a wide range of sizes.

These and other objects of the invention will be manifest from thefollowing brief description and the accompanying drawing.

Of the accompanying drawing:

Figure -1 is a side elevation, partly broken away and in section, of abattery terminal tool embodying the invention, the same being shown inoperative position for removing a terminal connection from a batterspost.

Figure 2 is an edge View of the tool shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross-section taken on line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a front elevation, similar to Figure 1, illustrating anotherembodiment of the invention.

Figure 5 is an edge view, partly broken away and in section, of the toolshown in Figure 4.

Referring particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing, the numeralI 0 designates a cross-member having a central bore II for rotatablyreceiving an internally threaded nut or sleeve I2, the latter having anenlarged portion or collar I3 at one end thereof for abutment with oneside of cross-member ID. The nut or sleeve I2 is held against relativeaxial movement in the bore I! by means of a split ring I4 retained in anannular groove I2 in nut 0r sleeve I2, and engaging the side of thecross-member opposite to said collar I3 of the nut. Nut I2 is providedwith a suitable handle I5 on the outer end thereof for turning the samerelative to crossmember ID, for purposes to be described.

A pressure post I6 may have a stem portion I7 adjustably threaded intothe nut l2, theend of the post'extending axially outwardly of the nutand being flattened, as shown, and provided with a longitudinallyextending slot I8 for axially slidably, but non-rotatably receiving asquared pivot element therethrough. Element I9 has integral pivot pins26, 2:), extending outwardly from opposite ends thereof, upon which pinsmay be pivoted a pair of oppositely disposed gripping elements 2i and22, these elements being arranged in crossed relation to provide opposedjaws 2F and 22 for engagement with opposite sides of the usual splitterminal T of a battery post P. Extensions 2| and 22 of the crossedgripping elements 2| and 22, may extend angularly outwardly of the postI6 toward crossmember Hi to swing in arcs about the pivot pins 20. Links23 and 24 may be pivoted at one end thereof to oppositely disposed lugs25 and 25 on cross-member I9, and pivoted at the other end thereof, asindicated at 2?, 28, to the outer ends of the extensions Zl and 22thereby providing a double toggle connection between the crossmember andthe gripping elements. The arrangement is such that the pivot element I9may be freely moved in the slot I8 toward and from the cross-member It),to open and. close the jaws Zi and 22 independently of adjustment ofpost it relatively of said cross-member.

In the use of the tool described, the nut or sleeve I2 is rotated in thebore II of cross-member Ill, axially to adjust the post I 6 relativelyof the cross-member, so that said post will be in an approximateposition for engagement of the outer end thereof with the end of thebattery post P, and yet permit the pivot element I9 to be moved in theslot I8 from the position shown in chain-dotted lines in Figure 1, forexample, to the full-line position thereof in which the jaws H and 22will be in engagement with diametrically opposite sides of a batteryterminal T. While trial adjustments of pressure post I6 are being made,the pivot element I9 may be slid back and forth along the slot i8 byengaging the hand over the handle I5 and grasping opposite ends of pivotelement I9 with the thumb and forefinger, for example, whereby thegripping element may be freely opened and closed, as indicated in fulland chain-dotted lines in Figure 1.

When the approximate adjustment of the tool has been found,substantially as shown in full lines in Figure I, handle I5 is rotatedin the proper direction while the end of the pressure post I6 is heldagainst the end of the battery post P, thereby urging cross-member I0outwardly of post P and tending to straighten the toggle connectionbetween the cross-member l0 and the gripping elements 2| and 22 to clampthe jaws 2| and 22 against the opposite sides of the terminal T.Although the tool described is compact in construction, the doubletoggle connection between the cross-member and the gripping elementsproduces a mechanical advantage in the gripping jaws 2| and 22 such thatsufficient pressure may be applied between opposite sides of theterminal T to permit pulling the terminal from the battery post P, whenthe connections are so corroded, for example, that loosening theclamping bolt on the terminal has no effect to loosen the terminal fromthe battery post. This side pressure action of the gripping jaws isparticularly advantageous insituations where the terminal T is so closeto the top of the battery that the gripping elements cannot be engagedunder the bottom edge of the battery terminal.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, which show a modified form of theinvention, the numeral designates a cross-member having threadedtherethrough a pressure post 3|, the latter having a suitable handle 32for turning the post relative to the cross-member. The end of the post3| remote from handle 32 may have a reduced portion 33, rotatably andslidably received through a bore 34 in a pivot block 35, said blockbeing axially shiftable on the reduced portion l edges of a batteryterminal T for removing the same from the battery post P. The grippingelements 39 and 40, if desired, may be provided with gripping jawssimilar to the jaws 2 l and 22 of Figure 1.

The crossed extensions 39 and 49 of the gripping elements 39 and 40,respectively, may extend outwardly at an angle to the post 3|, towardthe cross-member 30. Links 43 and 44 may be pivoted at one end tooppositely disposed lugs 45 and 46 on cross-member 39, and pivoted atthe other end thereof, as indicated at 41 and 48, to the ends of theextensions 39 and 49 This provides a double toggle arrangement betweenthe cross-member 3|] and the gripping elements 39 and 4|], whereby thepivot block 35 is freely yieldingly shiftable along the reduced portionof the pressure post 3| toward and from the cross-member 30,independently of relative axial movement of the cross-memberpn thepressure 7 post 3| obtained by rotating the post 3| relatively of thecross-member.

The outer ends of the pivot pins 31, 31, may

have squared extensions 13 31*, adapted to be received through similarlysquared openings in ing of cross-member 30.

the respective gripping elements 39 and 40 to permit free pivotalmovement thereof. ,This construction is such that the finger grips 5U,50 remain in the same angular position relative to the block 35 as thelatter is slid along the reduced portion 33 of post 3|, whereby the jawsof the gripping elements may be opened and closed against the action ofa spring 36 by hooking the thumb over the handle 32 or the end of thepost 3|, and hooking the second and third fingers of the hand under thefinger grips 50, 59, so that the jaws of the gripping element may beopened or retained in open position by applying a squeezing action ofthe hand.

The tool shown in Figures 4 and 5 is operable somewhat in the manner ofthe tool shown in Figures 1 to 3. As before, the post 3| may be adjustedto approximate position by rotating the threaded portion thereof in thethreaded open- While the jaws of the gripping element are held inspaced-apart relation by yieldingly urging the finger grips 50, 5|]toward the handle 32, the end of the post 3| in association with thejaws may be placed against the end; of battery post P. Upon releasingfinger grips 50, spring 36 will urge pivot block 35 away from thecross-member, whereby the links 43 and 44 will swing the arms orextensions 39 and 40 inwardly in an arc about the pivot 31 to engage thetoe portions 39 and 4|] of the gripping elements under the lower edgeportons of the terminal T. When the tool is properly positoned, as shownin Figure 4, further rotation of the pressure post 3| to urgecross-member 3|] in the directon toward handle 32 will apply heavyopposing pressure between the end of post 3| and the toe portions 39 and40 of the gripping elements to loosen terminal T from post P.

Thus has been provided a simple compact and.

yet powerful pulling tool for removing corroded terminals from batteryposts. The tools shown and described are easy to operate, in each casethe gripping elements thereof being substantially self-adjusting to asubstantially wide range of battery terminal sizes.

Modifications of the invention may be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims,

What is claimed is:

1. A tool of the class described comprising a cross-member having anopening therein, an internally threaded nut received through saidopening to be rotatable relatively of said crossmember, a pressure postthreaded at one end into said internally threaded nut, said nut therebybeing rotatable in said cross-member to adjust said post axiallyrelatively of the cross-member, said post having a longitudinal slottherein, an element slidably received through said slot to be slidablerelative to said cross-member, a pair of oppositely disposed grippingjaws pivoted in crossed relation on said element to provide grippingportions in association with the end of said post remote from saidcross-member and providing extensions outwardly of said post, andpivoted' links extending between said cross-member and said extensionsof the gripping elements.

2. A tool of the class described comprising a cross-member, aninternally threaded nut, means for mounting said nut to be rotatablerelatively of said cross-member without relative axial movement, apressure post threaded at one end into said internally threaded nut,said nut thereby being'relatively rotatable in said cross-membertoadjust said post axially relatively of the crossmember, an elementaxially slidably mounted on said post to be slidable toward and fromsaid cross-member, a pair of oppositely disposed gripping memberspivoted in crossed relation on said element to provide gripping portionsin association with the free end of said post and to provide outwardextensions, and links pivotally connected between said cross-member andsaid extensions of the respective gripping members.

3. A tool of the class described comprising a cross-member having athreaded opening therein, a pressure post axially adjustably threaded insaid opening, means for relatively turning said post and saidcross-member to provide relative axial adjustment between the same, anelement axially slidably mounted on said post to he slidable toward andfrom said cross-member, a pair of oppositely disposed gripping memberspivoted in crossed relation on said element to provide gripping jaws inassociation with the free end of said post and to provide integraloutward extensions, pivoted links extending between said cross-memberand said outward extensions of the respective gripping members, andyielding means extending between said cross-member and said slidableelement for yieldingly urging the same apart.

4. A tool of the class described comprising a cross-member having athreaded opening therein, a pressure post adjustably threaded in saidopening, means for relatively turning said post and said cross-member toprovide relative axial ad justment between the same, an element axiallyslidably mounted on said post to be slidable toward and from saidcross-member, oppositely disposed pivot pins on said slidable element, apair of oppositely disposed gripping members pivoted in crossed relationon said pivot pins to provide gripping jaws in association wth the freeend of said post and providing outward extensions, links pivotallyconnecting between said cross-member and said outward extensions of therespective gripping members, yieldable means extending etween saidcross-member and said slidable element for yieldingly urging the sameapart, and finger grips non-rotatably secured on said pivot pinsoutwardly of said gripping elements.

5, A tool of the class described comprising a cross-member having acentral internally threaded portion, a pressure post threaded at one endthrough said internally threaded portion, means for relatively rotatingsaid post and said threaded portion with respect to each other toprovide axial adjustment of the post relative to the cross-member, anelement axially slidably mounted on said post to be slidable thereontoward and from said cross-member, a pair of oppositely disposedgripping members pivoted intermediate the ends thereof to said elementto provide oppositely disposed gripping jaws in association with thefree end of said post and to provide oppositely disposed arms extendingoutwardly of opposite sides of said post, and a pair of links eachpivotally connected at one end thereof to said cross-member and at theother end to the one of said oppositely disposed arms.

6. A tool of the class described comprising a cross-member having acentral internally threaded portion, a pressure post threaded at one endthrough said internally threaded portion of he cross-member, meansoperable for relatively rotating said pressure post and said threadedportion with respect to each other to adjust the post axially relativelyof the cross-member, an element axially slidably mounted on said postintermediate the other end thereof and said cross-member to be slidabletoward and from the cross-member, a pair of oppositely disposed grippingmembers pivoted in crossed relation on said slidable element to providegripping portions in association with said other end of said. post andto provide outward extensions, and links pivotally connected betweensaid cross-member and said extensions of the respective grippingmembers.

ARTHUR P. STONE,

